Thread by @SteB777

In this febrile political situation, caused by the populist right, blaming the "left" for the killing of their hero, who was ironically killed by a lone gun nut, not a left conspiracy, is the use of the term "left" as if it is a collective entity, collectively responsible.
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Notice how I used the term populist right, not just right wing or Conservative. Because this modern faction, is only loosely connected to conservatism. In other words, I defined what I was talking about. But their use of "left" is not defined at all.
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The "left" is a massive spectrum of different groups and factions, which have little to do with each other and are often rivals and opponents. It ranges from centrist neoliberals to revolutionary Marxists, with a massive gulf in between.
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Confusingly the populist right, MAGA, will often refer to quite hawkishly right wing Conservatives such as Liz Cheney, as left, RINOs. When used as this collective insult by the populist right, it seems to mean anyone that doesn't pledge unquestioned allegiance to Trump.
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To confuse things even more, when Donald Trump repeatedly uses the term "radical left", almost no one he refers to, is remotely radical left. Radical left, means revolutionary Marxists etc. They are very rare in the US.
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In the UK, I consistently see right wing media, commentators and supporters of Reform, refer to Keir Starmer as a Marxist. Which is just an absurdity. He is perhaps the most virulently anti-left wing leader of the Labour Party, there has ever been.
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Then there is the added complication, that the left right axis, doesn't even include many people and groups. Yes, the populist right, will often call them left wing, which they are not.

I am personally, non-ideological, against all ideology.
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Take @GretaThunberg who has become a lighting rod for the populist right, and they froth at the mouth at the mere mention of her name. Yet Greta has consistently criticised, right, centre, left, and even green politics. She has no political alignment.
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Just going through the comments after the death of Charlie Kirk, I see this stated again and again, without irony. This is an actual copy and paste.

"The left are the most intolerant, hateful group of people, and spiteful, but just too stupid to see it."
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Over the years, I have been baffled as to how even quite moderate Conservatives see all the left as the same, and call them all communists. Often implying that all socialists are secret communists. It'd be quite funny, if the consequences weren't so serious.
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Of course, this is classic stereotyping, such as in racism, where all the hated outgroup, are all seen as the same, all having the same characteristics, and most importantly, all being collectively responsible, for the actions of individuals, vaguely connected to the left.
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It's common for supporters of the populist and extreme right, to take umbrage at being called far right. Whilst ironically referring to quite moderate progressives, as the far left, hard left, communist, Marxist or whatever term randomly comes into their mind.
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Whilst it's hard to generalize, most progressives seem much more aware of nuances, and different factions on the right. Whereas on the right, all across the spectrum I see not one inkling, that what they see as the collective "left", vary enormously in their outlook.
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This is not new. Lots of Conservatives I've known, even quite moderate ones, well before the advent of right wing populism, have seen all the "left" as the same. I mean, I have tried to have a dialogue with them, to appreciate who they mean and are referring to.
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I've been very surprised at why apparently, intelligent and educated people, have virtually zero understanding of the very disparate groups on the left, and that these groups often have very little in common with each other. They just don't seem interested in learning.
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Whereas, it is common amongst progressives, to find some interest in the different groupings on the right and what they actually believe in.

So far from the left being intolerant and hateful, it seems to be the right projecting their attitude onto their perceived opponents.
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I know of no leader on the left, outside state communist countries, or dictatorships, who like Trump has been sending in the military to cities and states run by Democrats, to intimidate them with threats of violence. Cutting off funding from universities etc.
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It's like another populist right talking point "woke culture". I have never heard anyone using it as pejorative, including university educated commentators, be able to give a coherent and cogent explanation, of what they actually mean by "woke". Just anything they don't like.
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The reason I so heavily criticise the modern right, is because of their ridiculous science denial, denial of climate change, denial of the ecological crisis, anti-vax. I have tried to engage with them, but it is impossible. They're not rational.

19/threadreaderapp.com/thread/1967117…

It's like trying to talk to someone from a cult. Of course, ironically, they ridiculously accuse climate activists of being in a cult - it's all projection. When concern about climate change is based on hard empirical evidence. Not just science, but lived experience.
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My message to the populist right, is if you want the left (and I am not a spokesperson for the left, as I am non-ideological) to take you seriously, then stop stereotyping the left, see that actually the left are very different, and stop being intellectually lazy.
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As it is, the populist right, is so divorced from the truth, has so little respect for the truth, evidence or science, that the only possible response to this level of absurdity, is to ridicule them. If you want to stop being treated as stupid, stop acting like you're stupid.
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Respect is earned. If you don't respect people with different views, and aim to violently and forcefully suppress people with different views, some who have hard evidence for these views, then don't expect to be respected.
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We heard Trump the other day. He isn't interested in unity, understanding and respect. He just wants to crush the "radical left", whatever he means by this ignorant stereotype. Whist claiming the left are hateful and intolerant.

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https://x.com/atrupar/status/1966480377368735856

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